Diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Chile were formally established in 1926 with Chile’s recognition of the Republic of Türkiye. In this context, Chile became the first Latin American country to officially recognize Türkiye.[1] This diplomatic recognition laid the foundation for the friendly and structural cooperation that has developed between the two countries over time.
Over time, reciprocal high-level visits have not only symbolized but also strengthened the structural foundations of Türkiye-Chile relations. The 1995 visit of Turkish President Süleyman Demirel to Chile was regarded as a significant step in Türkiye’s foreign policy outreach towards Latin America. This visit paved the way for the institutionalization of economic and political cooperation between the two countries and reinforced mutual trust. The visits of Chilean President Ricardo Lagos in 2004 and President Sebastián Piñera in 2012 to Türkiye further deepened political consultations and accelerated commercial relations. These engagements concretized the pursuit of a strategic partnership based on mutual interests and reflected the growing importance of Latin America on the foreign policy agendas of both nations.
The 2016 visit of President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Chile highlighted the historical dimension and cultural ties of the bilateral relationship. During the visit, the foreign ministries organized a joint exhibition commemorating the 90th anniversary, emphasizing the institutional memory of their diplomatic relations. Additionally, the political consultation meeting between the foreign ministers demonstrated the two countries’ commitment to developing a shared stance on current regional and global issues. These high-level engagements strengthened the institutional framework for positioning Chile as a model partner in Türkiye’s Latin America policy and for diversifying areas of mutual cooperation. Thus, beyond symbolic gestures, a sustainable and profound foundation for partnership in diplomacy was established.[2]
The economic outcomes of this diplomatic rapprochement are also significant. Turkey and Chile have realized the only Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed within the Latin America and Caribbean region. [3] This agreement was signed in 2009 and came into effect in 2011. Following the FTA, bilateral trade between the two countries increased rapidly, reaching approximately 900 million USD by 2024.[4] Trade relations between Turkey and Chile hold a significant place in the economies of both countries. Key export items from Turkey include construction materials, textile products, and automotive parts, while imports from Chile prominently feature copper derivatives, wine, various agricultural products, seafood, and a range of fruits. Copper and agricultural products stand among Chile’s main export commodities, whereas in recent years, the share of machinery and electronic products in Turkey’s exports has shown notable growth. This composition of trade contributes to the diversification of bilateral cooperation and the deepening of economic ties between the two nations.[5]
As part of the centennial celebrations, the “Chile Tourism Workshop and B2B Event” was held in Istanbul on June 18, 2025. The event was organized through the collaboration of the diplomatic missions of Turkey and Chile, their tourism offices, and Turkish Airlines (THY).[6] During the event, Chile’s natural and cultural riches—ranging from the Atacama Desert to the Patagonia region—were showcased, and Turkish travel agencies had the opportunity to hold one-on-one meetings with Chilean tour operators. Douglas Araujo, Regional Sales and Marketing Director of Turkish Airlines (THY), stated that Istanbul–Santiago flights were launched as of December 18, 2024, with a stopover in São Paulo, and that there are plans to expand these routes in the future to further enhance mutual travel mobility.[7] Such tourism-oriented diplomatic initiatives serve not only as instruments of economic cooperation but also contribute to the institutionalization of diplomatic relations in line with countries’ soft power strategies. Within Türkiye’s Latin America strategy, mutual cultural promotion efforts, visa facilitation, and the development of direct transportation routes hold a prominent place.
Turkey-Chile relations are framed within the context of “South-South cooperation” as part of Türkiye’s broader foreign policy vision. Both countries advocate for justice-based multilateralism and international cooperation on global platforms. While Türkiye plays an active role in formations such as the G20 and MIKTA, Chile stands as a key actor within regional integration mechanisms such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Pacific Alliance.[8] This shared vision enables enhanced cooperation in areas such as global governance, climate change, trade, and humanitarian assistance.
From a future-oriented perspective, three key strategic areas can be identified in Turkey-Chile relations. The first is the development of public-private sector partnerships between Chile’s lithium and copper reserves and Türkiye’s green economy and sustainability goals.[9] The second is the initiation of joint projects based on technical and knowledge sharing in areas such as digital infrastructure, e-government applications, and cybersecurity. The third involves the establishment of joint response and cooperation mechanisms to address pressing global challenges such as disaster management, migration law, and health diplomacy.
In conclusion, the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations is not merely a celebration, but also an important opportunity to elevate bilateral ties to a multidimensional, sustainable, and geopolitically meaningful level. Cooperation between Türkiye and Chile is deepening across economic, cultural, and normative domains, positioning itself as a successful example of the South-South cooperation model within the literature of international relations.
[1] “Türkiye-Şili Siyasi İlişkiler”, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Dışişleri Bakanlığı, https://www.mfa.gov.tr/turkiye-sili-siyasi-iliskileri.tr.mfa, (Date Accessed: 23.06.2025).
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] “Diplomatik ilişkilerin 100. yılında Türkiye ve Şili arasında turizm işbirliği”, Euronews, https://tr.euronews.com/2025/06/18/diplomatik-iliskilerin-100-yilinda-turkiye-ve-sili-arasinda-turizm-is-birligi, (Date Accessed: 23.06.2025).
[5] “Türkiye-Şili İş Forumu İki Ülke İş Dünyasını İstanbul’da Buluşturdu”, Dış Ekonomik İlişkiler Kurulu (DEİK) https://www.deik.org.tr/basin-aciklamalari-turkiye-sili-is-forumu-iki-ulke-is-dunyasini-istanbul-da-bulusturdu?utm_source=chatgpt.com, (Date Accessed: 23.06.2025).
[6] “Diplomatik ilişkilerin 100. yılında Türkiye ve Şili arasında turizm iş birliği”, Euronews, https://tr.euronews.com/2025/06/18/diplomatik-iliskilerin-100-yilinda-turkiye-ve-sili-arasinda-turizm-is-birligi (Date Accessed: 23.06.2025).
[7] Ibid.
[8] Chile, OECD. Org, https://www.oecd.org/en/countries/chile.html, (Date Accessed: 23.06.2025).
[9] Şili, Yatırıma Açık Lityum Rezervi Alanlarının Sayısını İki Katına Çıkardı, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Ticaret Bakanlığı, https://ticaret.gov.tr/blog/sektor-haberleri/sili-yatirima-acik-lityum-rezervi-alanlarinin-sayisini-iki-katina-cikardi, (Date Accessed: 23.06.2025).
